ABSTRACT
The overall objective of this chapter is to set out a fairly abstract discussion on the nature of the firm. Much of the literature considered here is well known, but after outlining the key issues involved a ‘new’ perspective is offered. The ‘new’ here is presented in inverted commas, as the newness is based on existing and well-known building blocks; any claim of originality is based on an attempt to integrate the presented perspectives on the economics of the firm within a unified framework.
